Recording device for meters



May 25 1926. 1,586,423

vE. G. GEBAUER RECORDING DEVICE FOR METERS Filed sept'. 11, 195.4

23 T331 mau gwucmoz? 722%? 67. Gyezaef.

Patented May Z5, 1926.

'ETE

EMIL G'. GIE-BAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECORDING DEVICE FOR METERS.

Application led September 11, 1924. Seri-a1 No. 737,202.

This invention relates to meters tor the measurement ot electricity or other fluids, and more particularly to the indicating clement thereof, it being the object of the present invention to provide an adjunct to such meters whereby the reading at any time may be recorded at Will on a record card. 4

As is Well known, meters for the above classes of service are generally located in basements, lofts, storage rooms and like places Where access to the meter is not good and light is poor, or even absent. The p eriodical inspection ot meters theretore'entails some hardship, and mistakes in readings are often made, leading to dispute when bills are rendered. In accomplishing the primary object outlined above, the invention eliminates the necessity ot reading the meter and the uncertainty in that connection.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a device of this kind Which is ot relative simplicity and requires nok skill to operate.

lVith these objects in view, and others which Will become apparent in the course of the following description, the invention embodies a novel combination and arrangement of parts covered in principle in the appended claims, attention being directed to the accompanying drawing, in Which Figure 1, is an. elevation of the device s iowing it appended to a typical gas meter, of which the showing is but tragmental;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and y Figure 3 is a rear elevation showing more clearly the record card referred to and its support.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the upper part oit a typical gas meter, 6 the trame of the indicator thereof, 7 the glass Window held in the trame and 8 the usual series oit indicating dials. The pointers 9 of these dials are operated by an internal gearing, but this gearing has not been shown, n since it has no direct bearing on the invention. The operation ot the gearing remains as usual, as Well as the position ot the dials 8 and pointers 9.

In order that a given position of the pointers may be recorded as outlined above, the outer ends thereof instead of coming to a point are bent out to `term lugs 1Q. These adoperate with a. facsimile dial legend 8 on a record card ilmshewn in Figure tie-to record the position oit the pointers thereon, this action consisting ot pressing the record card against the lugs so as to receive an impression theretrom. It Will thus be seen that, with the record card exactly opposite the series of dials 8, the respective. impressions of the pointer lugs 10 will. cause a reproduction of their position on the record card, Which is then removed to the oiiice ot the service company for use in billing the customer or proving the meter reading at the time the record was taken.

In Figure 3, the rear tace ot record card is shown it being the face which engages the pointer lugs 10. Ot necessity, the dial readings on this face must be a negative tacsimile of the original dial readings ot the meter, so that the position of the pointers at a given time will read the same in figures on both sets of dials. It desired, however, the record may be made a positivecopy of the original dial series, providing the reverse side et the record card as the one to engage the pointer lug 10. The print or impression ot the latter Would, of course, appear more distinct and suggest a more faithful image of the original dial series, if the negative form of record card were `used in preference to the positive form.

The record card 11, is adapted to be car ried by a metal slide 12 which is positioned to Work down into-and up out o-the indicator frame or housing 6 With the guidance of a sheath 13 forming an upward continuance ot the rame.- The slide is normally held in high or inactive position-as shovvn-by a lever 14 medially'tulcrumed at 15 to a projection 16 of the sheath 13. The outer end ot the lever is drawn dovvn- Wardly by a spring 17 hooked to an eye ott one end of the frame 6, and the inner end of the lever is slotted at 179 to receive a pin at the top of the slide, so that the connection will not bind when the lever draws up the slide.

The upper section ot the frame 6 is' ot necessity slotted to permit the movement of the slide, and the latter is limited in its upward stroke by a shoe 21 at the bottom. rihis shoe is a reinforced rubber strip which not only acts as a sto i to terminate the upward movement oitie slide, but as a seal to prevent leakage or 'escape ot any gas from the trarne or housing 6 in case the mener is one for gas and some is present in the housing 6.

The slide is formed With outbent tlanges which act as stops against the sheath. 13 to ,limit the descent of the slide. T he latter is of relatively thick material to permit the incision into its rear face oit a series ot' circular grooves 23 correspoiiding in position and size to the respective orhit-s ot the point er lugs l0 previously referred to. Thus, with the record card ll positioned against the rear tace ol the slide, and the latter dropped to recording' position, it will he seen that pressure ot the slide in the direction o'l the lugs 10 will alloiv the yielding` of the record card stoelr into the respective `s g'rooif'es 2-3 at the points ol Contact with the lugs, that the in'ipression oli the latter vill he evident trom the indentations ot the record card stock. rlie pressur'e ot the slide to accomplish this result is produced hy the side lugs 2li ot a roclshatt etcnding across the .interior et the iframe 6, the roel;- shaft having an external handle 2G and a torsion spring Q7 to nornially turn 'the shaft with its lugs ahuttino.' the .vindoiv 7, so that they Will not he in the path oit the descending slide 12. Villien the latter is down, hoivever, pressure against the handle 2G will cause the lugs 24 to impinge on the slide to accomplish the result described.

That part of the slide l2 which is ahove the grooves Q3 is relatively thinner to receive the upper edge ofthe record card l1. The latter is made tast to the slide hy a vvedgreclamp 2S simulating: a pair o't spring' tongs, the outer leg;` o'l which presses on the cart asthe clamp is slid down through a strap 29 on the loaelr ot the slide. The clamp is then used as a handle With which to push down the slide ivhen a reading is to he taken.

Next inside of the record card when in recording` position. are a number ot verticalspring Wires C30 spanning' the interior ot the trame t, these flexing' when the card advances on the pointer lugs ll). hut returningr` to normal position when the pressure is released, and therefore hackingthe card away-trom the lugs in case it has a-tendency to adhere to them.

It vrill thus he seen that a device is had which faithfully records the meter reading' at any time, yet is notY a part of the meter proper. nor interferes with or aticcts the operation of the saine. lleingg; limited to the indicating` arrangement. it is readily adaptable lo any device which has a dial iudieat-or, ivnether it is a gas, electricity or wat-er meter, or a gage, scale or other variahle measuring; device. ',`he preferred construction has heen shown in the drawing', lout it Will he evident thay many minor changes may he made, or equivalents suhst-ituted, Without departing from the principle and scope of the invention.

Lasalle I claim 1. A recording mechanism tor use in connection with ineters con'mrising a housing adapted to he extended over the dials ol' a meter and having a sheath, a slide inovahle tlirough saidsheath and having' the inner portion thereof provided with a strip adapted to flatly engage the housing' at its point of connection with the sheath to ei-:talilish a llui d tig'lit connection at the point where the sheath joins the housing ivlierehy te pi'cyciii:l luid from escaping hetiveen the slide and the sheath.

2. In a recording; device tor meters, thc combination et a plurality ol indicatimfj hands having; laterally directed projections, cards adapted to he directly engaged and indented hy said in'ojections` and a con'xhinel movable support and hacking; ttor said cards, said combined movable support and hacking; heingg` provided With annular grooves to receive said projections and that portion ot the card, which is indented hy said laterally directed projections.

A recording; mechanism 'tor use in connection VWith meters comprisine` a housing adapted to he :Ltended over the dials ot a meter and havingv a sheath. a slide n'iovahle through said sheath, an indicating card carried loy said slide, a lever ulcrunied to said sheath and having connection with said slide, and a spring associated with said lever and urging` said slide to elevate/c position.

et. A recording' mechanism Ytor use in cennection with meters comprisinga housing' adapted to he extended over the dials ol a meter'and having a sheath, a slide inovahle through said sheath, an indicating' card carried hy said slide, a lever tulcrnmcd to said sheath and having; connection ivith said slide, and a spring associated with said lever and urging' said slide to elevated posh tion, the l We portion-ot said slide heine; provided with means engaging' said housing; atl its point ol" connection ri'ith the sheath and estaolishinn1 a tlrid tight connection hetiveen the sheath and the housing' when the slide is in elevated position.

5. .ln a recording device l'or ira-terre the comhination with a housing' adapted to lic positioned over the' indicating di: ls ol' a meter and having a sheath, a slide movuhle throughsaid sheath and into said liousinnand having' one end thereof provided 'with :i transvcse strip adapted to engage t tion ot said housing; to establish a lluid tipi 5 connection lietivcen the housingzj and i sheath when the slide is in elevated position. and spring means ncn'inall\Y holding .fai-'l slide in an elevated position and normally holding); said strip in l'luid tight contact with said housing.

In testimony ivhercot l allier my signature.

EML G. GLBUER.

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